Uptown Waterloo BIA public art projects showcase local artists

The Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA) issupporting local artistsand businesses through several public art projects.

The BIA, with the help of the City of Waterloo, put a call out for artists to participate in theThe Hughes Lane Art Walk project and the Uptown Window Walkers project, which is currently underway.

"Our local artists, like our local businesses have been greatly impacted by the pandemic and all could use our support,"said Tracy Van Kalsbeek, executive director of the Uptown Waterloo BIA.

"I think art is a start of a conversation and it gets people talking and checking out newthings. And for us it's getting people to come to uptown and explore uptown."

Back door decor

The Hughes Lane Art Walk project called on local artists to paintthe back doors of businessesalong King Street.

Van Kalsbeek said the project was tolaunch originally in June during the city's Open Streets event, but the pandemic pushed thedate to August.

She said the BIA hopes to launchavirtual tour of Hughes Lane that will showcase each door and provide information on the piece and the artist.

Nikolina Kupcevicis one of eight local artists who participated in the Hughes Lane project. Shepainted her pieceon the back door of Zero Waste Bulk.

"I like to explore conceptual themes. I'm fascinated by the power of art and how it's able to pull a viewer in," she said.

Kupcevic says this was her first public art project. Her piece,Enlightened,depicts a side portrait of a woman lighting acandle resting on her forehead.

"With that, I really wanted to explore the theme of empowerment and self evolution," she said.

"She realizes the strength of her spirit and thestrength of her own light. She didn't need anybody else to light that candle for her."

The piece is crossed byblack lines to represent barriers in the woman's life,Kupcevicsaid.

Window Walkers

The Uptown Window Walkers project is also currently underway.

Dana ShorttGourmet and Gifts recently had their storefront painted,saidVan Kalsbeek, adding that morestorefronts in the uptown area will be painted next week.

Van Kalsbeeksaidthe BIA may run a similar project for the holidays.